Container construction



June 4, 1. 'l1

o. w, W15-NT2 CONTAINER CONSTRUCTIGN Filed March 1, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Il "In". Y

June 41'940. o. w. wEN'rz CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION WlNvENToR Ofc/we WEA/72.

5 Sheets'-Sheet 2 Filed llarh l, 1937 june 4, 1940. Q vw, wEN-rz v 2,202,879 comunas cousTnuc'rIoN Filed March l, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY June 4, 1940. Q -w wNTz i 2,202,879 y CONTAINER doNsTnucTIoN Filed March 1, 1937 5 Sheelcs-Shee'rl 5 INVENTOR se/m M I/f/vrz.

ATTO NEY Patented June 4, 1.940

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 claims.

, This invention relates to container construction, and more particularly to liquid-proof containers made of sheet material like paper, cardboard, fibrous materials, or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive liquidproof container construction. Another object is to provide a container construction that will make ecient use of the sheet material like heavy paper, cardboard, or the like, that can be inexpensively fabricated, and that is capable of being filled and sealed efficiently, inexpensively and dependably. Another object is to provide a container construction of the above-mentioned character that can be inexpensively prefabricated and compactly stored or shipped. Another object is to provide a container constructionof the above-mentioned character which, after fabrication, can be collapsed into substantially fiat form, for shipment or storage. Another object is to provide a container construction capable of being stored or shipped in flat form but constructed so that, for purposes of lling, it can be conveniently and easily converted into a. form to receive liquids, and thereafter efficiently and inexpensively closed and sealed.

Another object is to provide a. container construction of the above-mentioned character which will be sanitary and well adapted for the handling of beverages and for the drinking thereof directly from the container. Another object is to provide a container construction by which beverages, or the like, may be sealed therein and thereafter made available for drinking directly from the container, all in a manner to insure maintenance of cleanliness and sanitary conditions.

Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and in the several steps and relation and order of each of the same to one or more of the others, all as will be illustratively described herein, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are fo shown several of the various possible embodiments of the mechanical features of my invention,

Figure 1 is a plan view or development of a blank of paper or the like from which the container may be made;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the container construction in an earlier stage;

Figure 3 is a bottom end view, as seen from the bottom of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view like that of Figure 2 showing the construction in a later stage;

Figure 5 is a side elevation thereof, as seen from the right in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the container construction and of diagrammatically indicated means for preparing the container for filling;

Figure 7 is an end elevation, as seen from the right in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a View like that of Figure 6 but showing the container construction undergoing closing or sealing;

Figure 9 is an end elevation, as seen from the right in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view like that of Figure 9 showing a preferred form of closure;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the completed, filled and sealed container, and

Figure l2 is a fragmentary view like that of Figure 11 but showing how the container is prepared for consumption of its contents.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring rst .to Figure 1, I prefer to give the blank, cutout of paper, cardboard, or other suitable sheet material, an outline or shape as indicated in Figure 1, with score lines as there shown, the blank being in general rectangular in shape. Thus, extending parallel to each other and parallel to the `side edges of the blank are score lines I5, I6, I'I and I8, defining therebetween generally rectangular areas representing what will be termed side wall A, rear wall B, side wall C, and front wall D. To the left of the score line I5 is a rectangular area which is ultimately to be brought face to face and adhesively secured to the front wall D, and it may be of the same area as the front wall D but preferably is of lesser width, as shown in Figure 1; for convenience, it will be termed the flap E, but it is to be understood that that is not a term of limitation in so far as its width is concerned.

Intermediate of the Score lines I5 and I6 and of the score lines I1, I8 are score lines I9 and 20, preferably midway thereof, extending also parallel thereto.

For eiecting ultimate closure of the ends of the ultimate container I preferably employ certain flaps. Thus, extending upwardly beyond the rectangle that comprises the wall areas A, B and A being of such a character as to permit ready tearing therealong; for example, they may comprise alined partial or complete perforations. Tab J is alined with respect to the central vertical axis of the wall area B and on the center line of the front wall D, and the upper edge of the latter is preferably cut out or recessed as at K, preferably on a curve, as indicated.

The rectangle defined by the wall areas A, B and C has its lower horizontal edge dened by a horizontal score line 24 to the lower side of which and between the score lines I9 and 20 I preferably provide a ap L and preferably to the two sides of flap L are smaller flaps M and O. Flap L is intersected by the lower ends of the vertical score lines I6 and I'I.

In the two side walls are additional score lines outlining triangular areas. Thus, below the upper horizontal boundary of the side wall area A are score lines 25, 26 and 21 forming a triangle, the sides 25 and 25 of which are preferably equal and the apexes of which fall on the three score lines I5, I 9 and I6, respectively.

Just above the lower horizontal boundary of the side wall area A score lines 29, 30 and 3| form a like triangle but inverted. And respectively comparable to these triangle-forming score lines, side wall area C has score lines 33, 34 and 35 near its upper end and score lines 31, 38 and 39 near its lower end.

With the blank so formed and scored adhesive of any suitable character is applied to the under face of the flap E, as viewed in Figure l, or to the upper face of the front wall area, in the latter case to an extent to match the area of the flap E. Thereupon so much of the blank as is to the left of the score line I9 is folded about the latter as an axis and so much of the blank as is to the right of the score line 20 is folded about the latter as an axis, both of these portions of the blank being thereby brought into overlapping relationship and flatwise against the rear wall area B and the two adjacent halves of the side walls A and C, the overlapping relationship of parts E and D bringing the adhesive, applied as above mentioned, into action to secure the overlapping parts E and D together. This relationship is better shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thereby flaps G and H, where they are employed as is preferred, are brought to overlap the ends of flap F to which they may be secured with an adhesive, if desired. In completing the abovedescribed folding operation, suitable or appropriate pressure may be applied to tightly press together the parts that have adhesive therebetween, particularly the overlapped flap E and front wall D, the flattened condition of the construction at this stage being shown in Figure 3. The folding operation above described brings the front and rear walls close to each other and in juxtaposition and they are preferably of the same width; likewise the tab J becomes substantially alined on the center line of the recess K (Figure 2).

` but flattened container structure.

Thereupon ap F, now substantially a composite flap in that it has flaps G and H folded against it, is folded over toward the observer, viewing Figure 2, and downwardly upon and against the front face of the front wall D and the two halves of the side walls C and D, to which the composite flap is secured by an adhesive, suitable pressure being applied to press the parts together to insure proper setting of the adhesive, the parts assuming the relationship better appearing in Figures 4 and 5, from which it will also be seen that the cut-away part or recess K becomes closed over by the flap K.

Thus a secure and dependable and leakproof closure is achieved at one end of the tube-like The folding operation will be seen to be simple and can be inexpensively and rapidly carried out. Furthermore, in applying the adhesive to bring about the above described folding and securing operations and results, the adhesive is preferably applied as indicated by the stippling in Figure l, from which it will be seen that the adhesive may be applied to one side of the blank and in principally two areas; one of the latter is an area of the front wall D substantially equal to the area of the flap E which, as earlier noted, may, if desired, be of the same area as the front wall D, and the other area comprises that of the flaps F, G and H, tab J being preferably left dry so that it is subsequently more readily accessible or available (see Figure 5).

The resultant container construction (Figures 4 and 5) is fiat, occupies a minimum of space, may be efficiently stored and efficiently and inexpensively shipped, for the space factor is in its favor. In this condition its one end is dependably sealed, as above-mentioned, while its other end has extending across it the flap L over which are lapped the smaller flaps M and O if the latter are used as is preferably the case.

The container is thus ready for immediate or subsequent filling and the closed and sealed end above described and shown in Figure 4, ultimately to become the top end, is for purposes of lling treated as the bottom end. The container construction in that stage is accordingly inverted and given the position shown in Figure 6, the above-described sealed end being at the bottom.

By any suitable means, diagrammatically indicated in Figure 6 by the reference characters 4I, 42, the container construction is now conditioned for the reception of liquid, being first opened up by bringing it out of its flattened condition of Figures 4 and 5; in the latter condition, and as will now be clear, side wall A (see Figure 1) is folded upon itself along the fold line I9 and side wall C is folded upon itself along the fold line 20, these fold lines forming (see Figures 2 and 4) the side edges of the flattened construction. Devices 4I and 42 (Figure 6) are of a vertical dimension commensurate with the vertical spacing between the bases of the triangular areas (Figure 1) in the side walls A and C and are correspondingly positioned above a. suitable support, table, or the like, upon which the flattened container of Figures 4 and 5 is to be up-ended with its sealed end at the bottom.

Any suitable means may now be employed to bring members 4I, 42, normally spaced apart by a distance equal to the width of the flattened container, as viewed in Figure 4, toward each other to bring the spacing therebetween equal to the width of the juxtaposed rear and front walls B and D; in Figure 6 they are shown in this last-mentioned spacing, the movement to achieve which being accompanied by bringing the two halves of each of the theretofore folded side walls A and C out of foldedrelationshlp and into a single plane, the fold lines I5, I 6, I1 and I8 coming into play during this operation to permit the walls D and B to be spread apart and to give the container a four-sided, illustratively rectangular, cross-section throughout its extent above the bases 21 and 35 of -the two upper triangles (Figure 1) in the side wall areas A and C, respectively, all as appears clearly from`Figures 6 and 7.

The lowersealed end, as viewed in Figures 6 and '1, remains closed, folded or sealed along a straight line (the bottom edge of the flap F of Figure 6), that straight line fold being of greater extent than the width of the main body portion of the container itself. 'I'he lower-portions D1 and B1 of the front and rear walls converge downwardly, as is better shown in Figure '1, to this closing orl sealing line, the triangular areas P and Q diverge outwardly and downwardly about the fold lines 35 and 21 as respective axes, this latter action taking place as the members 4I and 42 are moved toward one another, as above described. The area or portions C1 and C2, shaped as shown in Figure 1, merge in gradual curvatures from the above-mentioned straight line fold or closure to the diagonal and angularly inclined fold lines 33 and 34, respectively.` A similar relationship is assumed by the portions A1 and A2 to each side of the triangular area or portion Q.

Thus, opened up, the upper end of the container, as seen in Figures 6 and '1, is, in effect, an upward extension of the rectangularly cross-sectioned mainbody portion of the container itself, presenting an upwardly exposed rectangular mouth from the rear wall B of which there is upstanding the flap L now, however, bent or folded about the fold lines a portion L1 with the flap O (Figure 6) projecting upwardly as a continuation of the side wall C, a flap portion L2 and the ap M forming an upward extension (Figure 6) ofthe side wall A. y

In this condition the container may be treated with paraffin, wax, or the like, if desired, and is ready to be filled with, for example, a drinkable liquid like milk. Having put into the container the desired quantity of liquid, the rectangularly shaped mouth, above described, may now be closed, and this is preferably done while the container is still held by the parts 4I, 42, as shown in Figures 6 and '1. Any suitable means, diagrammatically indicated in Figure 7 by the reference characters 5I and 52, of a dimension greater than the width of the front and rear walls D and B, may be employed to engage the upper ends of these walls and, upon moving the members 5I and 52 toward each other, the two halves of each of the side walls A and C become, at their upper ends, folded upon one another, about the fold lines I9 and 20, respectively, the flap portions L1 and L2 being thereby brought into a straight line with the auxiliary flaps 0 and M, folded, about the fold lines I9 and 20, against the flap portions L1 and L, as shown in Figure 8. f

'I'his operation .is accompanied by an upward convergence of the upper portions D11 and B1 of the front and rear walls, respectively, and by an upward and outward divergence ofthe triangular areas or portions R and S of the said walls C and A (Figures 1, 8 and 9) about the fold lines I6 and I1 to presentl 39 and 3|, respectively. The portions C3 and C1 of the side wall C and the portions A3 and A4 of the side wall A merge in appropriate'curvature, during the above-described folding operations, from the straight line along which the mouth has been closed to the angularly inclined diagonal-like fold lines 31, 38, 29 and 30, respectively.

The next step in these folding operations comprises folding over the entire flap L, with its portions L1 and L2 treated as part of it, and also the auxiliary folds M and O through substantially 180 and in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 9, all about the fold line 24 (Figure 1) and then securing this flap L in its thus folded position; this is preferably accomplished by means of a sheet metal U-shaped member 54 (Figure l0) which is set over the above-described folded flaps and its two wings or arms forced toward each other, thus tightly to hold the flaps in closed and folded position, and the mouth of the container dependably sealed.

The resultant closure is preferably treated as the bottom end of the container, the latter being for that purpose inverted, as shown in Figure 11. In this condition, containers may be set up side by side in boxes, baskets, or like receptacles for display, delivery, shipment, or the like, the sheet metal clamp 54 safeguarding each container against wear, damage, or the like, where it is thus up-ended.

Dependable assurance against leakage is achieved by this construction, particularly where. as is preferred, the auxiliary flaps G, H, O and M (Figure 1) are employed; each of these auxiliary flaps is at an extreme corner of the container, as the latter is is folded over against a, main flap, and the ltwo iiaps are together folded over, thus forming at each corner a multiple fold that is dependably leakproof.

A preferred manner of withdrawing the contents from the container; particularly where the container is employed to retail drinkable liquids like milk for quick lunches, beverages, and the like, at ball parks, or the like, is indicated in Figure 12; the flap J (see Figures 7 and 11) is Apreferably not glued down and hence forms a sort of tab which can be grasped by the fingers and pulled upwardly, in Figure 11, so much of the flap F as is included between the lines 22 and 23 tearing or parting, the tab or flap J assuming a position as shown in Figure 12, or, if desired, it may be completely torn off along the fold line 2I. Thereby the cutaway portion K (see Figures 1 and 12) forming, in effect, an aperture that had been previously closed over by the flap F or J, becomes exposed. Through the resultant opened orifice, the liquid may be withdrawn and it will be seen that it may be drunk directly from the container by the consumer, and the container discarded. Also, a straw or tube may be used.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention a container construction and method of making the same in which the various objects hereinbefore noted, together with many thoroughly practical advantages. are successfully achieved. It will be seen that the construction is thoroughly practical and well adapted to meet the varying conditions of practical use.

As many possible embodiments maybe made of the mechanical features of the above invention and as the art herein described might be varied viewed in Figure 11, eachv as shown in Figure 12,

in various parts, all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A container construction comprising sheet material folded into tube-like form and having score lines defining front and rear walls and two side walls, each of said side walls having a dividing score line extending substantially centrally therealong, said tube-like form being flattened out to bring said front and rear Walls back to back and to fold each of said side walls upon itself along said dividing score line, said flattened container construction having thereby an aggregate width equal to that of either of said front and rear walls plus the widths of one-half of each of said folded-over side walls, flap extensions for one of said two first-mentioned walls and for at least each adjacent half of said side walls and at one end of said construction and folded over relative to the other of said two first-mentioned walls and the remaining respective halves of said side walls and secured in place to form a straight-line closure at said one end of a dimension equal to said aggregate width, said side Walls having transverse score lines spaced from said one end whereby, when said two folded-over side walls are operated upon to unfold each throughout an intermediate portion thereof and to bring the two halves of each side wall substantially into a single plane throughout said intermediate portion, the remaining portions of said side walls that extend from said intermediate portion to said one end merge each from its respective single plane into said straight-line closure at said one end and said front and rear walls likewise merge into said straight-line closure, and score lines including transverse score lines spaced from the other end of said container construction for folding said other end into a closure.

2. A container construction as claimed in claim 1 in which means are provided for securing the folded parts at said other end in closure relationship, a wall portion underneath one of said flap extensions having an aperture therein and a portion of the flap extension overlying said aperture having score lines or the like to permit it to be separated from the rest of said flap extension and thereby to uncover said aperture.

3. A container construction as claimed in claim 1 in which means are provided for securing the folded parts at said other end in closure relationship, a wall portion underneath one of said iiap extensions having an aperture therein and a portion of the flap extension overlying said aperture having score lines or the like to permit it to be separated from the rest of said flap extension and thereby to uncover said aperture, said portion of said ap extension having a free tab portion whereby it may be grasped and separated from the rest.

4. A container construction as claimed in claim 1 in which the folded parts forming said closure at said other end are provided with clamping means to make said closure substantially permanent, and means associated with said straightline closure and comprising part of at least one of said flap extensions and means securing said part in place to permit it to be relatively easily manually removed.

5. A container construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said second-mentioned transverse score lines are in said side walls and said closure at the other end comprises the halves of each of said side walls folded upon themselves and the ends of said front and rear walls, all brought into a straight line, with means securing them in said straight-line closure position, the halves of such portions of said side walls as extend between said end and the said transverse score lines merging from the latter respectively into said straight-line closure position.

6. A container construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said second-mentioned transverse score lines are in said side walls and said closure at the other end comprises the halves of each of said side walls folded upon themselves and the ends of said front and rear walls, all brought into a straight-line position to constitute a straight-line closure, the halves of such portions of said side walls as extend between said end and the said transverse score lines merging from the latter respectively into said straight-line closure position, and a flap extension folded over said straight-line closure, and means securing said flap extension and the contiguous parts of said straight-line closure in said straight-line closure position.

7. A container construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said second-mentioned transverse score lines are in said side walls and said closure at the other end comprises the halves of each of said side walls folded upon themselves and the ends of said front and rear walls, all brought into a straight-line position to constitute a straightline closure, the halves of such portions of said side walls as extend between said end and the said transverse score lines merging from the latter respectively into said straight-line closure position, and clamp means clamping said side wall halves and the ends of said front and rear walls in said straight-line closure position.

8. A container construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said second-mentioned transverse score lines are in said side walls and said closure at the other end comprises the halves of each of said side walls folded upon themselves and the ends of said front and rear walls, all brought into a straight-line position to constitute a straightline closure, the halves of such portions of said side walls as extend between said end and the said transverse score lines merging from the latter respectively into said straight-line closure position, and a flap extension folded over said' and clamping.

straight-line closure position, means clamping Asaid folded flap extension and said related parts of said straight-line closure in said straight-line closure position.

9. A container construction as claimed in claim 1 in which said iiap extensions at said one end comprise a ap extension of at least one of said front and rear walls and flap extensions of the two halves of each of said side walls, thereby to form at the ends of said straight-line closure multiple leak-proof folds.

10. The method of handling a blank for containers comprising a sheet of material like heavy paper or the like of substantially quadrangular shape having substantially parallel spaced score lines therein defining and alternating with each other front, rear and two side walls, with a longitudinal flap extending along one of the marginal walls thus defined, whereby said blank may be folded into a tube, and score lines extending substantially centrally of said two side wall portions whereby when said blank is folded and secured into said tube-like form the two halves of each of said side Walls are folded against each other along said last-mentioned score lines, and 75 transverse score lines in said side walls spaced from the respective ends thereof, which comprises folding and securing it into said tube-like form and flattening it out along said last-mentioned score lines to bring the front and rear Walls back to back and each of said side Walls folded upon itself, closing one end of said tube-like form along a straight line to form a straight line closure, opening said attened tube-like form Without disturbing said straight-line closure by separating said front and rear walls and causing said side walls to be unfolded excepting for those portions between said straight-line closure and certain of said transverse score lines, the latter causing said portions to merge into said straightline closure, whereby the container may be filled through the remaining and still open end, and then folding said remaining end into a straightline closure by bringing the end edges of said front and rear walls together and into a straight line and causing the remaining portion of said sidewalls between the rest of said transverse score lines to merge from` the latter into said straight line, and securing the resultant straight-line closure against opening up.

11. The method of handling a blank for containers comprising a sheet of material like heavy paper or the like of substantially quadrangular shape having substantially parallel spaced score lines therein defining and alternating with each other front, rear and two side walls, with a longitudinal flap extending along one of the marginal walls thus defined, whereby said blank may be folded into a tube, and score lines extending substantially centrally of saidl two side wall portions whereby When said blank is folded and secured into said tube-like form the two halves of each of said side walls are folded against each other along said last-mentioned score lines, and transverse score lines in said side walls spaced from the `respective ends thereof, which comprises folding and securing it into said tube-like form and flattening it out along said last-mentioned score lines to bring the front and rear walls back to back and each of said side walls folded upon itself, closing one end of said tube-like form along a straight line to form a straight-line closure, opening said flattened tube-like form without disturbing said straight-line closure by separating said front and rear walls and causing said side walls to be unfolded excepting for those portions between said straight-line closure and certain of said transverse score lines, the latter causing said portions to merge into said straight-line closure, whereby the container may be filled through the remaining and still open end, and then folding said remaining end into a straight-line closure by bringing the end edges of said front and rear walls together and into a straight line and by folding the end edge portions o-f said two side walls each respectively upon itself and thus to bring them into said straight line and causing the remaining portion of said side walls between the rest of said transverse score lines to merge in an outward direction from the latter into said straight line, and securing the resultant straightline closure against opening up.

12. A container construction comprising sheet material folded into tube-like fo-'rm and having score lines defining front and rear walls and two side Walls, each of said side walls having a dividing score line extending substantially centrally therealong, said tube-like form being flattened out to bring said front and rear walls back to.

back and to fold each of said side walls upon itself along said dividing score line, said flattened container construction having thereby an aggregate width equal to that of either of said front and rear walls plus the widths of one-half of each of said folded-over side walls, said side walls having score lines adjacent their respective ends whereby, when said two folded-over side walls are operated upon to unfold each throughout an intermediate portion of the container construction and to bring the two halves of each side wall substantially into a single plane throughout said intermediate portion, the remaining or end portions of said side walls remain folded each upon itself to fall into the straight line along which the end edges of the front and rear walls are brought together, thereby to form a straightline closure at each end, and means holding the straight-line closures at said two ends in closure relationship.

13. A container construction as claimed in claim 12 in which one of the closure-retaining means comprises flap means forming an extension of at least one of the walls of the container and being folded over the straight-line closure, and means for holding said flap means in place.

14. A container construction as claimed in claim 12 in which one of the closure-retaining means comprises flap means forming an extension of at least one of the walls of the container and being folded over the straight-line closure, and means for holding said flap means in place, said flap means having a portion-capable of being relatively easily torn to provide an aperture in that end of the container construction.

OSCAR W. WENTZ. 

